Easton, Robert 1930–

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EASTON, Robert 1930–

(Robert Easton Burke, Bob Easton)

PERSONAL

Full name, Robert Easton Burke; born November 23, 1930, in Milwaukee, WI; son of John Edward and Mary Easton (maiden name, Kloes) Burke; married June Bettine Grimstead, March 18, 1961. Education: Attended University of Texas at Austin, 1948–49, University of California, Los Angeles, between 1949 and 1971, and University of London, 1963.

Addresses:

Agent—Paul Kohner, Inc., 9300 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 555, Beverly Hills, CA 90212–3211.

Career:

Actor, dialect expert, dialogue coach, educator, and writer. Henry Higgins of Hollywood, Inc., founder, president, and dialogue coach. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), writer of special radio features, 1963–64. Faculty member at Actors' and Directors' Lab, Hollywood, CA, 1968–78, University of Southern California, 1972–78, and Sherwood Oaks Experimental College, 1975; Carson–Newman College, artist in residence, 1974; guest speaker at other universities. International Federation of Actors, U.S. representative in the Soviet Union, 1972, and Sweden, 1973. Appeared as Thomas Jefferson in the attraction The American Adventure.

Member:

Screen Actors Guild (member of board of directors, 1969–73; first vice president, 1973), American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (member of board of directors, 1969), Actors' Equity Association, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Writers Guild of America, British Equity Association, Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters (charter member), Phi Eta Sigma.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

(Uncredited) Fisher, Undertow, Universal International Pictures, 1949.

(Uncredited) Con victim, Union Station, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1951.

(As Bob Easton) Hotel clerk, Havana Rose, Republic, 1951.

Jerry, Drums in the Deep South, RKO Radio Pictures, 1951.

(As Bob Easton) Luke McCoy, Comin' round the Mountain, Universal, 1951.

Tex, Cause for Alarm!, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1951.

(As Bob Easton) Tex Channing, Savage Drums, Lippert Pictures, 1951.

(As Robert Easton Burke) Thompson, The Red Badge of Courage, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1951.

Caleb Smith, Feudin' Fools, Monogram Pictures, 1952.

(Uncredited) Corporal, Fearless Fagan, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1952.

(Uncredited) Franklin Dykes, Belles on Their Toes, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1952.

(Uncredited) Kansas serviceman, With a Song in My Heart, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1952.

(Uncredited) Man in television hair commercial, Dreamboat, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1952.

(Uncredited) Yokel, "The Ransom of Red Chief," O. Henry's "Full House" (also known as Full House), Twentieth Century–Fox, 1952.

Danny, The Neanderthal Man, United Artists, 1953.

(Uncredited) Deck hand, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Warner Bros., 1953.

Lewis, Combat Squad, Columbia, 1953.

(Uncredited) Cargo clerk, The High and the Mighty, Warner Bros., 1954.

(Uncredited) Cumberly, Deep in My Heart, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1954.

(Uncredited) The Raid, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1954.

Ackerman, Hold back the Night, Allied Artists, 1956.

(Uncredited) Corporal Quinbury, Somebody up There Likes Me, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1956.

Lafe, The Kettles in the Ozarks, Universal, 1956.

(Uncredited) Young cowboy, The First Traveling Saleslady, RKO Radio Pictures, 1956.

Jonesie, When Hell Broke Loose, Paramount, 1958.

Sparks, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1961.

Nupert, The Nun and the Sergeant, United Artists, 1962.

Staff sergeant Handown, The War Lover, Columbia, 1962.

Navigator, Come Fly with Me, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1963.

Dusty Acres, The Loved One, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1965.

Texan, One of Our Spies Is Missing, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer/United Artists, 1966.

Atwell, Paint Your Wagon (musical), Paramount, 1969.

Third doctor, Johnny Got His Gun, Cinemation Industries, 1971.

Frank Warren, Squares (also known as Honky Tonk Cowboy and Riding Tall), Plateau Releasing, 1972.

Voice, Heavy Traffic (animated), American International Pictures/Orion, 1973.

Mr. Keitel, The Touch of Satan (also known as Curse of Melissa, Night of the Demon, and The Touch of Melissa), Dundee Productions, 1974.

Dan Kester, The Giant Spider Invasion (also known as Invasion of the Giant Spiders), BijouFlix Releasing, 1975.

Fred Staines, Mr. Sycamore, Film Ventures International, 1975.

Timber Tramps (also known as The Big Push and The Timber Tramp), Howco International Pictures, 1975.

Store proprietor, Pete's Dragon, Buena Vista, 1977.

Customs man, When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?, Columbia, 1979.

Voice, Invaders from the Deep (also known as Invaders from the Deep: Stringray), Universal, 1981.

American husband, Invitation to the Wedding, Chancery Lane, 1985.

Zergeyev, Tai–Pan, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1986.

Armbrister, Working Girl, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1988.

Hecht, Georg Elser—Einer aus Deutschland (also known as Georg Elser and Seven Minutes), Mutoskop/Hemdale Releasing, 1989.

Klingon judge, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Paramount, 1991.

Emcee, Little Sister (also known as Mister Sister), Inter-Star Releasing/Pangea Film Group, 1992.

Priest, Pet Sematary II (also known as Pet Cemetery II), Paramount, 1992.

Hitz, 1992.

Lester Pratt, Needful Things, Columbia, 1993.

Mayor Amos Jasper, The Beverly Hillbillies, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1993.

Voice of Hoot, Storybook (live action and animated), PM Entertainment Group, 1995.

Dr. Beauregard, Primary Colors (also known as Perfect Couple and Mit aller Macht), MCA/Universal, 1998.

Drunk cab driver, Just One Night, First Look Pictures Releasing, 2000.

Jim, Red Roses and Petrol, Rock 'n Read Productions, 2003.

John (some sources cite Jim) Janney, Gods and Generals, Warner Bros., 2003.

Minister, Lost, SilverCrest Entertainment, 2004.

Roger, Spiritual Warriors, 2005.

Film Dialect Coach:

Inchon, 1981, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer/United Artists, 1982.

Flesh & Blood (also known as The Rose and the Sword and Los senores del acero), Orion, 1985.

Revolution, Warner Bros., 1985.

Listen to Me, Columbia, 1989.

Next of Kin, Warner Bros., 1989.

Stella, Buena Vista, 1990.

Mobsters, Universal, 1991.

Noises Off …, Buena Vista, 1992.

The Beverly Hillbillies, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1993.

Wild Bill, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer/United Artists, 1995.

City Hall, Sony Pictures Releasing, 1996.

Good Will Hunting, Miramax, 1997.

Night Falls on Manhattan, Paramount, 1997.

Homegrown, Sony Pictures Entertainment/TriStar, 1998.

Drowning Mona, Destination Films, 2000.

Gods and Generals, Warner Bros., 2003.

The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Buena Vista, 2003.

Volare (short film), Sky King Productions/Kings View Productions, 2004.

Film Dialogue Coach:

The Molly Maguires, Paramount, 1970.

Love and Bullets, Associated Film Distributors, 1979.

Scarface, Universal, 1983.

The NeverEnding Story (also known as Die Unendliche Geschichte), Warner Bros., 1984.

Volunteers, TriStar, 1985.

Red Heat, TriStar, 1988.

Georg Elser—Einer aus Deutschland (also known as Georg Elser and Seven Minutes), Mutoskop/Hemdale Releasing, 1989.

Loverboy, TriStar, 1989.

The King's Whore, 1990.

The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, Warner Bros., 1990.

Young Guns II (also known as Hell Bent for Leather and Young Guns II: Blaze of Glory), Twentieth Century–Fox, 1990.

Double Impact, Sony Pictures Releasing, 1991.

Hard Target, Universal, 1993.

The Empty Mirror, 1996, Lions Gate Films, 1999.

Snapshots, Albion Entertainment/Film Venture/Overseas Film Group, 2002.

Film Work; Other:

(Uncredited) Accent coach, Khartoum, United Artists, 1966.

Accent consultant, Magic, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1978.

Television Appearances; Series:

Brian McAfee, a recurring role, The Burns and Allen Show (also known as The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show), CBS, 1957–58.

Voices of Lieutenant George Lee "Phones" Sheridan, Agent X20, and others, Stingray, syndicated, 1964–65.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Major George Sibley, Centennial, NBC, 1978.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Onofre, A Very Missing Person (also known as Hildegarde Withers), ABC, 1972.

Toby, Jarrett, NBC, 1973.

David Gamut, Last of the Mohicans, NBC, 1977.

Incredible Rocky Mountain Race, NBC, 1977.

Reverend Allen, Charleston, NBC, 1979.

David Finley, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, ABC, 1981.

Sheriff Mike Sorensen, The Oklahoma City Dolls, ABC, 1981.

Cletis Ramey, Long Gone (also known as Stogies), HBO, 1987.

Television Appearances; Specials:

"McCoy of Abilene," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1953.

Court reporter, The Andersonville Trial, PBS, 1970.

Shopkeeper, Almos' a Man (short), Showtime, 1976.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

(Uncredited) Desk clerk, "The Case of the Miracle Mud," Racket Squad, CBS, 1951.

(As Bob Easton) Tex, "The Case of the Matchmaker," Racket Squad, CBS, 1952.

Marvin, "The Runaway Robot," Adventures of Superman (also known as Superman), syndicated, 1953.

"Sunset at Appomattox," Cavalcade of America, ABC, 1953.

George Merchant, "A Strange Journey," Cavalcade of America, ABC, 1954.

Hi–Boats, "Hiya Pam," Navy Log, CBS, 1955.

Magnus Goode, "Magnus," Gunsmoke, CBS, 1955.

"Fight for Geronimo," Buffalo Bill, Jr., syndicated, 1955.

"Margie's Baseball Player," My Little Margie, NBC, 1955.

"On Leave," Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, CBS, 1955.

(As Bob Easton) "The Sheik," The Bob Cummings Show, CBS, 1955.

Abner Harkey, "The Mississippi Kid," Annie Oakley, syndicated, 1956.

Smiley Douglas, "Joker on Horseback," Annie Oakley, syndicated, 1956.

Stanley Moran, "It's Always Sunday," Screen Directors Playhouse, NBC, 1956.

"Sudden Silence," Ford Theater: All Star Theater (also known as All Star Theater, The Ford Television Theater, and Your All–Star Theater), ABC, 1956.

Ensign Knute Lee, "Buzz Boy," Navy Log, ABC, 1957.

(As Bob Easton) Lem Clemens, "The Clemens Boys," Circus Boy, ABC, 1957.

Swapper Sam Scott, "The Cloudbusters," The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, ABC, 1958.

Robert E. Harper, "The Comic," How to Marry a Millionaire, syndicated, 1959.

"The Clara Duncan Story," Wagon Train, NBC, 1959.

Billy Counts, "Coffin Sam," Johnny Ringo, CBS, 1960.

Billy Counts, "Reputation for Murder," Johnny Ringo, CBS, 1960.

Bugler, "Incident at Rojo Canyon," Rawhide, CBS, 1960.

Florida Gates, "Millionaire Sandy Newell," The Millionaire, CBS, 1960.

Pete Johnson, "Irresistible Andy," The Andy Griffith Show, CBS, 1960.

Jeff the shepherd, "Baa–Baa," Wanted: Dead or Alive, CBS, 1961.

(As Bob Easton) Private Monty Webb, "School of the Soldier," The DuPont Show with June Allyson, CBS, 1961.

Benson, "The Latin Touch," The Saint, Incorporated Television Company, 1962.

Hapless magician, "Who Killed Merlin the Great?," Burke's Law, ABC, 1964.

Henry Barton, "Race against the Stork," Petticoat Junction, CBS, 1964.

Moore, "There Was Another Dalton Brother," Death Valley Days, syndicated, 1964.

Beauregard Short, "Luke's Boy," The Beverly Hillbillies, CBS, 1965.

Ed Allison, "The Case of the Wrathful Wraith," Perry Mason, CBS, 1965.

Hector, "The Hairbrained Scheme," Petticoat Junction, CBS, 1965.

Lacy, "Return from Outer Space," Lost in Space, CBS, 1965.

Moose Mallory, "All–Star Munster," The Munsters, CBS, 1965.

"Grave Doubts," The Rogues, NBC, 1965.

Harold Hewley, "Just for Laughs," Please Don't Eat the Daisies, NBC, 1966.

Jud, "Mine Is the Luck of the Irish," Please Don't Eat the Daisies, NBC, 1966.

Will Dill, "Wretched Beautiful," Pistols 'n' Petticoats, CBS, 1966.

Iffie, "Lucy and Tennessee Ernie Ford," The Lucy Show, CBS, 1967.

Woody, "A Little Jazz," Combat!, ABC, 1967.

Maestro, "The Little Black Book: Parts 1 & 2," Get Smart, NBC, 1968.

Wrangler, "Ride the Man Down," The Mod Squad, ABC, 1969.

Hank, "The Bounty Hunter," Alias Smith and Jones, ABC, 1971.

Bernard Carmichael, "Mr. R.I.N.G.," Kolchak: The Night Stalker (also known as Kolchak and The Night Stalker), ABC, 1975.

Nelson Phipps, "Amusement and Healing Parks," Fern-wood 2Night, syndicated, 1977.

Colonel, "Rancho Outcast," The Bionic Woman, NBC, 1978.

Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1990.

Appeared in other series, including The Danny Kaye Show, CBS; The Doris Day Show, CBS; The Jack Benny Program, CBS and NBC; Lassie, CBS and syndicated; The Merv Griffin Show, NBC, syndicated, and CBS; The Mike Douglas Show, syndicated; The Milton Berle Show, NBC and ABC; Playhouse 90, CBS; and The Red Skelton Show, NBC and CBS.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Sissy, 1959.

Voices of second WSP officer, first aquaphibian, and second aquaphibian, Stingray, syndicated, 1964.

American tourist, Harry's Hong Kong, ABC, 1987.

Television Work; Series:

Vocal coach, Costello, Fox, 1998.

Television Work; Miniseries:

Dialogue coach, Kane & Abel, CBS, 1985.

Dialect coach, Amerika, ABC, 1987.

Dialect coach, Cruel Doubt, NBC, 1992.

Television Dialect Coach; Movies:

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, ABC, 1981.

Hidden in Silence, Lifetime, 1996.

The Maker, HBO, 1997.

For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story, HBO, 2000.

Television Dialogue Coach; Movies:

The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel, CBS, 1979.

The Amy Fisher Story (also known as Beyond Control), ABC, 1993.

The Maker, HBO, 1997.

Radio Appearances; Series:

Quiz Kids, beginning 1945.

Performed voice of Magnus Proudfoot for the radio series Gunsmoke; also appeared in other programs, including Fibber McGee and Molly, The Fred Allen Show, The Halls of Ivy, Our Miss Brooks, Suspense, William Shakespeare—A Portrait in Sound, and Zero Hour.

Stage Appearances:

Tall Story, 1959.

Desire under the Elms, 1974.

Stage Work:

Dialect coach, Accomplice, Richard Rodgers Theatre, New York City, 1990.

RECORDINGS

Video Games:

Voices of Archibald Gracie, Sir Cosmo Duff–Gordon, Charles Joughin, and third reporter, Titanic Explorer (also known as James Cameron's "Titanic Explorer"), Twentieth Century–Fox Home Entertainment, 1997.

WRITINGS

Screenplays:

Contributor of dialogue, The NeverEnding Story (also known as Die Unendliche Geschichte), Warner Bros., 1984.

Contributor of dialogue, Georg Elser—Einer aus Deutschland (also known as Georg Elser and Seven Minutes), Mutoskop/Hemdale Releasing, 1989.

The Giant Spider Invasion (also known as Invasion of the Giant Spiders), BijouFlix Releasing, 1975.

Nonfiction:

Contributor to periodicals, including Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, Mankind, and Variety.